Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty Is Cost-Effective in an Outpatient Setting.

INTRODUCTION: Increasingly, unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) is being performed on an outpatient basis, with the growing utilization of ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). The purpose of this study was to compare the costs of UKAs performed in an ASC to UKAs done in a hospital, either on an outpatient or inpatient basis. METHODS: This study involved three matched groups, each with 50 consecutive patients, undergoing UKA either on an outpatient basis in an ASC or a community hospital, or who were admitted overnight to the same community hospital. Identical perioperative analgesic regimens and care protocols were used in each group. The primary outcomes evaluated included direct facility costs. Secondary outcomes were postoperative complications and readmissions. RESULTS: Average age, gender ratio, and comorbidities were similar in all three cohorts. Only two patients in the study experienced complications and these were without secondary adverse consequences. Mean costs were substantially reduced when UKAs were performed in an ASC ($9,025) compared to a community hospital on either an outpatient ($12,032) or inpatient basis ($14,542). CONCLUSION: UKA can be safely performed in the outpatient setting, in appropriately selected patients, at substantial cost savings, particularly when performed in an ASC.

Hemorrhagic cystitis: a review of the literature and treatment options.

INTRODUCTION: Hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) is a morbid condition for patients and can be challenging for urologists to manage. There are many potential contributing etiologies and the severity of bleeding can be variable. It is important to consider each clinical scenario when formulating management strategies in order to provide the highest quality of care to patients. We provide a review of the literature including diagnosis and treatment options. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a literature search on PubMed using the following keywords: hemorrhagic cystitis, cystitis, gross hematuria, intractable hematuria. We considered all available published articles with no specific inclusion or exclusion criteria for the purposes of this review. RESULTS: We reviewed a total of 41 articles and identified a broad differential diagnosis for intractable hemorrhagic cystitis including infection, chemical exposure, malignancy, nephropathy, trauma, radiation therapy, and idiopathic etiology. Depending on the severity of bleeding, many treatments have been described. These range from conservative strategies (bladder fulguration and continuous irrigation) to more extreme and morbid therapies (intravesical instillations, embolization, and urinary diversion). CONCLUSION: Hemorrhagic cystitis is a relatively common and can be a difficult condition to manage for urologists. It is important to understand the etiology and available treatments options in order to best treat our patients. We provide a comprehensive and thorough review of the literature and propose a stepwise treatment approach.

How I Do It: PureWick female external catheter: a non-invasive urine management system for incontinent women.

Catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are common hospital-acquired infections and remain a significant medical and financial challenge to the healthcare system. Despite this risk, incontinent women may require prolonged catheterization to accurately monitor urine output and prevent skin breakdown. The PureWick Female External Urinary Catheter is a promising non-invasive urine collection system for use in incontinent women that may help reduce CAUTI rates, maintain skin integrity, accurately quantify urine output, and avoid extra healthcare costs.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia: an update on minimally invasive therapy including Aquablation.

INTRODUCTION: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common condition affecting older men. New interventional treatments have emerged and evolved over the years, each with their own distinct efficacy and safety profiles. While some have fallen out of favor, new options continue to be explored. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We provide a review and update on minimally invasive treatment modalities for BPH, including prostatic artery embolization (PAE), Aquablation, convective water vapor thermal therapy (Rezum), and prostatic urethral lift (Urolift). RESULTS: While current urologic guidelines recommend against PAE outside of the context of clinical trials, Aquablation, Rezum, and Urolift have demonstrated excellent efficacy and durability in relieving LUTS in the BPH patient. When compared to the gold standard, transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), these novel therapies yield equivalent or superior objective outcomes, with the additional benefit of significantly reduced sexual side effects. Additionally, Rezum and Urolift may be performed as outpatient procedures under local anesthesia, allowing for decreased hospitalizations, operative times, catheterization duration, and financial burden on the health care system. CONCLUSIONS: Aquablation, Rezum and Urolift are minimally invasive surgical treatment options capable of providing rapid, significant, and durable relief of LUTS secondary to BPH. Each technique demonstrates comparable efficacy to TURP with the added advantages of preserving sexual function, decreasing patient morbidity, and limiting healthcare costs.

An overview of biomarkers in the diagnosis and management of prostate cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Prostate cancer is a common malignancy with highly variable clinical presentation and outcomes. Diagnosis and management remain a challenge and at times become highly controversial. Novel biomarker assays have shown promise as an adjunctive tool to aid in patient shared decision-making, risk stratification, and disease management. This presentation at the 2020 Jefferson Urology Symposium provided a review of current commonly used biomarkers for prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the current literature on the use of biomarkers in the diagnosis and treatment decisions in localized prostate cancer. RESULTS: Biomarker assays were reviewed and presented according to clinical application of each test. In the consideration of initial prostate biopsy the blood tests for PHI, and 4K Score, and urine tests PCA3, Select MDx and ExoDx are available. In the consideration of treatment versus active surveillance in the biopsy positive setting OncotypeDx, Prolaris and Decipher are available. In patients with an initial negative biopsy, 4K score, PCA3, ExoDx and the tissue biopsy based Confirm MDx assay can help guide the decision to perform repeat biopsy. In the consideration for adjuvant radiation following radical prostatectomy the most extensive literature available supports the use of Prolaris or Decipher tissue assays. CONCLUSIONS: With the significant burden of men being diagnosed with prostate cancer, it is desirable to appropriately risk stratify patients to avoid unnecessary biopsies and over-treatment in low risk patients and guide appropriate treatment strategies in high risk patients. Selected biomarkers presented are useful adjunctive precision medicine tools to aid in shared decision making and to direct treatment decisions.

A retrospective comparison of diode to holmium for laser enucleation of the prostate.

INTRODUCTION: Holmium endoscopic laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) is a well-established alternative to traditional transurethral resection and open prostatectomy for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). We investigate the 1470 nm diode laser for enucleation as an alternative to HoLEP. The safety, efficacy, and initial outcomes of diode enucleation of the prostate (DiLEP), when compared to HoLEP, were examined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed records of 50 patients who underwent DiLEP between 2012 and 2015 and matched them with 50 HoLEP patients during the same time period. Objective evaluation of efficacy was determined by comparing preoperative post-void residual volume (PVR) and peak flow (Qmax) to postoperative values at 4-16 weeks and 1 year following surgery. Subjective evaluation was measured using the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) before and after the operation. Safety was evaluated by the development of persistent Clavien-Dindo grade 1, or 2 or higher postoperative complications. Statistical analyses were conducted using chi-squared and paired Student's t-tests. RESULTS: Subjective and objective postoperative results showed no difference between DiLEP and HoLEP. Average PVR volume following DiLEP was 47.1 mL at 1 year. The mean increase in Qmax was 16.4 mL/s at 1 year. The IPSS improved by a mean of 12.7 points, and by 2.6 points on quality of life questioning at 1 year post operation. Compared to HoLEP patients there was no statistically significant difference. Safety assessments were the same across both procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Diode laser is safe and effective for use in patients with BPH, with no significant difference in outcomes compared to HoLEP.

Colonic Schwannoma: A Case Study and Literature Review of a Rare Entity and Diagnostic Dilemma.

An asymptomatic 73-year-old woman was found to have a submucosal mass in the descending colon on routine colonoscopy. A CT scan revealed a 31 × 28 × 31 mm lesion in the same location. Previous biopsy proved to be nondiagnostic, and the patient underwent a laparoscopic descending colon resection. Histologic evaluation of the tumor revealed a low grade spindle cell neoplasm with strong, diffuse positivity for S-100 protein by immunohistochemistry, leading to the diagnosis of schwannoma. A review of the literature revealed intestinal schwannoma to be a rare disease entity, with only about 50 cases previously reported.